Purification underdrain with compensating chamber and baffle isolating backwash gas from backwash water

ABSTRACT

An underdrain lateral for a liquid purification system is described. The lateral has three chambers, a primary chamber, a compensating chamber, and gas chamber. Turbulence is minimized during cleansing of the purification media by isolating the gas from the liquid and the backwash liquid. This is accomplished by feeding gas into the gas chamber so that the chamber is occupied by gas only during cleansing. Orifices in the wall between the primary and compensating chambers and in the baffle between the compensating and gas chambers provide compensation for even distribution of liquid in the lateral. The design also enables the use of cut outs in the gas chambers to equalize gas pressures and flow among the laterals and throughout the system bed and cut outs in the primary chambers to equalize liquid pressure and flow among the laterals and throughout the system bed. Nozzles with threaded stems having gas inlet orifices may be used and the levels of the entrances to the nozzles adjusted by rotating the stems to equalize backwash liquid flow among the nozzles. To minimize liquid pressure for greater gas flow during cleansing, an insert in the stem, adjacent the gas inlet orifices, may be added.

This application is a continuation of Ser. No. 07/518,687, filed on May3, 1990, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,068,034.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to collecting and distributingapparatus or underdrains which are part of liquid purification systems.

One method of purifying liquid uses filtration systems with filter bedshaving one or more layers of material. The top layer consists of agranular media which is made up of fine particulate matter such asanthracite, sand, carbon, or garnet. The next level below the granularfiltration media comprises support or packing gravel. Underdrainlaterals are placed below the layer of gravel. These are long narrowchannels which are laid laterally across the width or length of thefilter bed. A plurality of such underdrain laterals are placed side byside, so that the entire lower portion of the filter bed beneath thegravel layer is composed of the laterals.

The liquid to be filtered is applied across the top of the granularlayer. As it seeps through the granular layer, waste material removedfrom the liquid accumulates and adheres to the particles of the granularlayer. The liquid then flows through the granular layer through openingsin the top of the underdrain laterals and then through a flume beneaththe underdrain, through which the filtered liquid is discharged.

To maintain the efficiency of the filtering system, it is necessary toperiodically clean the waste material from the granular and gravellayers. This is accomplished by the use of backwash water, which flowsin the reverse direction through the filtration system. The backwashwater is introduced at the flume beneath the underdrain. It flows upwardthrough the underdrain into and through the gravel layer and thegranular layer, from whence it is discharged.

In order to make the backwash process more efficient, a gas such as airis often used. The purpose of the gas is to sufficiently agitate thegravel and granular material to loosen and free waste material which hasadhered during the filtering process. During the gas cycle, a waterlevel slightly above the top of the granular level is maintained. Afterand or during the gas cleansing cycle, the backwash water is introducedto remove the waste material which has been loosened and freed by thegas.

Two approaches are used with regard to the cleansing of the filtermedia. In one approach, the gas cycle is used first and immediatelyfollowed by a cycle during which backwash water alone is used. Anotherapproach is to use the gas cycle first and immediately follow with acycle during which both gas and backwash water are introduced and flowthrough the filtration system simultaneously.

The use of the combined cycle of gas and backwash water is moreefficient since the amount of water required is drastically reduced ascompared to the backwash water required with a second cycle of backwashwater only. Furthermore, the combination of gas and water for the secondcycle provides a more efficient cleaning operation during the use ofwater alone. However, when the granular material is very fine, thecombined cycle cannot be used because some granular material is carriedaway by the gas bubbles in the backwash water and lost.

A typical operation might be the use of gas only in the order of 3-5standard cubic feet per minute per square foot of the filter bed 2-5minutes. Then the gas at 2-5 standard cubic feet per square foot perminute is mixed with water at 5-71/2 gallons per minute per square footfor 2-5 minutes. If the second cycle is backwash water only, up to 30gallons per minute per square foot 3-5 minutes might be requireddepending on the filtration media.

The filter bottom of M. L. Stuppy, U.S. Pat. No. 3,110,667 specifies ablock with two lower chambers alongside each other and two upperchambers, each one above a lower chamber. Ports between the lowerchamber and the upper chamber provide compensation which assist inevening out the pressure distribution of the backwash water and loweringthe amount of head pressure required. Stuppy however, does not providefor insertion of gas such as air to assist in the backwash process. Theonly way that gas can be applied in the backwash process in Stuppy is toadd a network of pipes to supply gas above the granular material level,which would be prohibitively expensive, or to add a network of pipesabove the underdrain which would disturb the granular material and causeit to mix with the gravel. The finer granules could then clog the portsat the underdrain and seep into the underdrain. Maldistribution ofgranular material across the filter bed could also result.

Farrabough, U.S. Pat. No. 4,065,391, discloses an underdrain whichprovides for the use of the gas for cleansing. Chambers are formed bydiagonal walls. This results in alternate chambers that mix gas andwater and chambers that carry water only, with compensating orifices inthe diagonal walls.

Sassano et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,214,992 specifies a block with an airand water chamber in the center and water dispensing chambers on bothsides. The chambers are formed with diagonal and straight walls and arerhombic in shape.

A major problem with the underdrains of Farrabough and Sassano is thatwhen the gas and water mix in the chamber during the gas cycle,turbulence is often set up which creates standing waves which can becomedestructive. The turbulence often result in the mixing of the granularparticles with the gravel, (six layers of gravel are required withFarrabaugh and Sassano underdrains), and the seepage of granularparticles into the chambers which clog the orifices on the top of theunderdrain and in the diagonal walls of the underdrain.

If the turbulence becomes severe enough, catastrophic damage can occurand has occurred, causing poor distribution of water and gas, damage toand breaking up of the underdrain, and lifting of the underdrain blocksor laterals off the filter bed floor.

Furthermore, it is not possible to connect the gas chambers from oneunderdrain lateral to another with cutouts to equalize the gasdistribution. It is also not possible with the underdrains of Farraboughand Sassano to interconnect with cutouts the water chambers from oneunderdrain lateral to another to equalize water distribution.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is the general object of the instant invention toprovide an underdrain for liquid purification systems which overcomesthe shortcomings of present structures.

It is a further object of the instant invention to provide an underdrainfor liquid purification systems which provides for a minimal amount ofturbulence in the water during the gas cleansing cycle and the combinedgas and backwash water cycle.

It is still a further object of the instant invention to provide anunderdrain for liquid purification systems which allows for cutout meansfor equalizing gas and water pressures and distribution between theparallel units of the underdrain laterals.

It is still yet a further object of the instant invention to provide anunderdrain for liquid purification systems which comprises a primarychamber, a compensating chamber, and a separate gas chamber.

It is another object of the instant invention to provide underdrain forliquid purification systems which allows for easy manual adjustment ofthe level of the ports for the entry of backwash water to flow out ofthe underdrain, in order to equalize the water pressure at each port andto equalize the distribution of the backwash water.

It is still another object of the instant invention to provide anunderdrain for liquid purification systems which minimizes the requireddepth of the gravel layer.

It is still yet another object of the instant invention to provide anunderdrain for liquid purification systems which prevents the cloggingof the input ports to the underdrain and the compensating orificesbetween the chambers of the underdrain with granular material.

It is still an additional object of the instant invention to provide anunderdrain for liquid purification systems which is inexpensive tomanufacture and is easy to install and maintain.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These and other objects of the instant invention are achieved byproviding an underdrain comprised of laterals which have three chambers;a lower chamber or primary chamber, a middle chamber or compensatingchamber, and a top gas chamber. Compensating orifices are placed in theseparator wall between the compensating and primary chamber and in ahorizontal baffle which defines the top of the compensating chamber andthe bottom of the gas chamber. These compensating orifices and thehorizontal baffle tend to equalize gas and water pressures duringcleansing operations and to prevent turbulence or the creation ofdestructive standing waves during backwash.

A series of nozzle assemblies are placed in the top wall of theunderdrain lateral along its length. Filtered water flows throughdistribution orifices in the top of the nozzle assembly through athreaded stem into the compensating chamber, to the primary chamber andthrough a flume from which it is discharged.

Parallel runs of the laterals comprising the chambers and nozzlesassemblies are installed under the gravel layer. There are various typesof gas and water distribution systems known to those familiar with theart. The instant invention may be used with front flume designs, wallsleeve designs and center flume designs, depending upon the size of thefilter bed and other factors in the design and installation.Furthermore, the underdrain design of the instant invention allows forcutouts in each lateral between the parallel underdrain blocks whichconnect the primary chambers together to equalize water pressure,distribution and flow and which connect the gas chambers together toequalize gas pressures and flow.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Other objects of many of intended advantages of this invention will bereadily appreciated when the same becomes better understood by referenceto the following detailed description when considered in connection withthe accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an underdrain lateral installed atthe bottom of the filtering system.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the underdrain showing the top of theunderdrain laterals and the nozzle assemblies of the underdrain.

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the filtering system whichshows the granular media and gravel packing levels and the underdrainlaterals taken along the line 3--3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a partial, cross-sectional view taken along the line 4--4 ofFIG. 3 which shows the gas inlet pipes for a front flume distributionsystem.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a filter bed using a wall sleevedistribution system.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a filter bed using a center flumedistribution system.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the underdrain lateral of thealternative embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a filter bed using a wall sleevedistribution system with the alternative embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now in greater detail to the various figures of the drawing,wherein like reference characters refer to like parts, there is shown inFIG. 1 a vertical cross sectional view of an underdrain lateral 2 of thepresent invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the underdrain lateral 2comprises a lower, primary chamber 4, a middle, compensating chamber 6and an upper, gas chamber 8. Nozzle assembly 10 has a threaded stem 12with orifices 14 and 16 for gas input into the filter bed duringcleansing.

The nozzle assembly 10 is located on a spacer 18 which is positioned ontop wall 20 of the underdrain lateral 2. The inner surfaces of thespacer 18 and the top wall 20 formed by a hole for placement of thecylindrical stem 12, are threaded to accept the threads at the top ofthe threaded stem 12. Distribution orifices 24 are placed in uppermember 22 of the nozzle assembly 10. The distribution orifices 24 aremade small to prevent passage of any granular material which has settledinto the gravel packing level during filtering and during cleansing.

Formed in the separator wall 26, which defines the top of the primarychamber 4 and the bottom of the compensating chamber 6 are compensatingorifices 28 which equalize water distribution and pressures during thefiltering and the gas and backwash cycles. A horizontal baffle 30separates the compensating chamber 6 from the gas chamber 8. Thehorizontal baffle 30 contains orifices 32 which equalize gas and waterpressure during the filtering and the gas and backwash cycles.

As will be described in detail later, during filtering of waste water,the water flows through the granular media level and then through thegravel packing level as shown in FIG. 3, through distribution orifices24 and into the threaded stem 12. The waste water then flows throughorifices 28 and then out through a liquid flume from which it isdischarged.

During backwash water is forced back into the system first through theprimary chamber 4 then into the compensating chamber 6 and out throughthe threaded stem 12. It then flows through the distribution orifices 24into the gravel layer and upward into and through granular layer fromwhence it is conducted out of the filtering system and discharged.

For greater cleansing efficiency a gas is introduced into the gaschamber 8. The gas flows through orifices 14 and 16 into threaded stem12 and out of the distribution orifices 24 through the gravel layer andthen through the granular layer. The gas bubbles formed agitate thegranular material so as to loosen accumulated waste material which wasformed during the filtering cycle.

After the gas cycle, a backwash cycle is initiated so that backwashwater flows through the gravel and media layers removing and carryingaway the waste material which was loosened during the gas cycle. Asdescribed previously, it is more efficient to follow the gas cycle witha combined gas and backwash water cycle then to follow the gas cyclewith a backwash cycle only. However, a combined cycle cannot be usedwhen the granular media is very fine since the granular material wouldbe carried away in the gas bubbles by the backwash water.

During the gas cycle, a water level above the granular level ismaintained. The gas entering the gas chamber 8 forces the water in theunderdrain downward until the level of the water is slightly below thetop of the compensating chamber 6. Water enters at the opening at thebottom of the cylindrical threaded stem 12 and gas enters the threadedstem 12 through the orifices 14 and 16. The gas and Water then gothrough the distribution orifices 24 and then rise through the graveland granular levels from whence they are discharged. This processloosens and removes the waste material which has accumulated on thegranular particles.

After the gas cycle which was described above, a cycle of backwash wateror a combined cycle of backwash water and gas may be used to clear awaythe waste material which has been loosened during the gas cycle.

The underdrain prevents turbulence during the gas and backwash watercycles as compared to underdrains in present use. With the water levelin the compensating chamber 6 just below the horizontal baffle 30, theamplitude of standing waves is reduced and water turbulence does notoccur as in existing devices. Furthermore, the threaded portion of thestem 12 enables, during installation and maintenance, the setting of theentrances 33 of the various stems 12 to exact levels above theunderdrain floor to assure that the water pressure and flow entering thevarious stems 12 are equalized throughout the entire filtering system.Also by placing all stems at the same level, the orifices 14 and 16 arepositioned for even gas pressure and flow in the filtering system.

The inside diameter of threaded stem 12 may be reduced by inserts 35placed near the orifice 14 to reduce pressure during backwash allowinggreater gas flow through the orifice 14.

FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the underdrain laterals 2. Each underdrainlateral 2 extends laterally across the width or length of filter bed 34.The array of the nozzle assemblies 10 are shown in the view. At the leftare the gas inlet pipes 54 which feed gas into each of the underdrainunits 2. The filter bed 34 comprises side walls 36, 38, 40 and 42. Showndotted on the right hand side of FIG. 2 are cutouts 56 which connect theprimary chambers 4 of the underdrain laterals 2 together to equalizewater flow and pressure in the underdrain.

FIG. 3 shows a vertical cross section of the filtering system along theline 3--3 of FIG. 2. As can be seen in FIG. 3 a layer of granularmaterial 46 is placed above a layer of gravel 48. The underdrainlaterals 2 cover the bottom 44 of the filtering bed 34 beneath thegravel layer 48. Gas inlet pipes 54 are placed in gas distributionchamber 49 for feeding gas into each of the gas chambers 8 of theunderdrain laterals 2. Cutouts 51 at the end of each of the underdrainlaterals 2 connect the gas chambers 8 to equalize gas pressure and allowan equal flow of gas throughout all the gas chambers 8.

Below the underdrain laterals 2 is a liquid flume 50 through which thefiltered water exits and into which backwash water flows during thebackwash cycle.

The gas inlet pipes 54 are placed at the front of the filter bed 34 areshown in FIG. 4, which is a partial cross-sectional view taken along theline 4--4 of FIG. 3. As can be seen in FIG. 4 cut outs 56 in the bottomof the primary chambers 4 at each end of each underdrain blocks 2provide for equalization of water pressure and water flow throughout theunderdrain.

As is well know to those skilled in the art, various arrangements withregard to water and gas distribution are in common use. The arrangementshown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 is a front flume design. In addition to thefront flume design, water and gas distribution can be achieved through awall sleeve design as shown in FIG. 5 or through a center flume designas shown in FIG. 6. The choice of distribution design depends upon thesize of the filtering system, the amount of water to be filtered, andvarious other considerations with regard to any specific installation.However, the instant invention is applicable to all such arrangements.

A wall sleeve water and gas distribution system with the presentinvention is shown in FIG. 5. Both gas inlet pipes 58 and liquid flume60 are in placed in side wall 42. Cutout 62, at both ends of underdrainlateral 2 connect the primary chambers 4 of each lateral 2 together toassure equal distribution of water pressure and flow throughout theunderdrain. Similarly, the gas chambers 8 of the underdrain laterals 2are connected together at one end of the laterals 2 by cutouts 64 whichequalizes gas pressure and flow throughout the underdrain.

FIG. 6 shows a center flume gas and water distribution system. Liquidflume 66 is shown centered in bottom wall 44. Gas distribution alsotakes place centrally. The gas enters into the gas chambers 8 via J tube68. Cutouts (not shown) may also be used to equalize water and gaspressures and flow.

An alternative embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. Inthis embodiment, the distribution orifices 24 in the upper member 22 ofthe nozzle assembly 10 are made larger. The dimensions of thedistribution orifices 24 of the alternative embodiment are 1/4 inch wideby 1 inch long as compared to 1/32 inch wide by 1 inch long in the firstembodiment. Also as can be seen in FIGS. 7 and 8, the threaded stem 12is made longer so that entrance 33 is in the lower chamber 4. Inaddition, the middle chamber 6 is made longer and the lower chamber 4 isshortened.

Also in this alternative embodiment, the functions of the chambers 4 and6 are reversed. Chamber 6 is the primary chamber into which the backwashwater is inserted. The lower chamber 4 is now the compensating chamber.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a filter bed with a wall sleevedistribution system using the alternative embodiment. As can be seen inFIG. 8, backwash water enters through liquid flume 60 into the middleprimary chamber. The upper chamber 8 remains the gas chamber as in thefirst embodiment and gas enters through gas inlet pipes 58.

The alternative embodiment is intended to guard against the possibilitythat after about five years of service, waste material might clog theopenings of the distribution orifices 24. The orifices 24 are thereforemade wider. This necessitates three to four layers of the gravel 48beneath the granular material 46. The larger size gravel is placed inthe lower layer with each higher layer being successively of smallersize with the smallest size gravel in the top layer, beneath thegranular layer. In the first embodiment, on the other hand, only onegravel layer is required because smaller size gravel can be usedabutting the nozzle assembly 10, because the openings of thedistribution orifices 24 are much narrower.

With this system it is possible that large gulps of air entering withthe backwash water could lift the finer gravel which could be washed outwhen the backwash water is discharged. Therefore, the threaded stem 12made longer so that the entrance 33 was considerably below the backwashintake into the middle chamber 6 to prevent air from entering into thethreaded stem 12 and thence through the distribution orifices 24 risingup through the gravel layers.

An underdrain system which provides for several clear and importantadvantages over the previous and current art has been described. Theseinclude the use of a gas cleansing cycle and a backwash liquid cycle ora combined gas and backwash liquid cycle wherein turbulence in theliquid is minimized. Existing systems often create sufficient turbulenceto result in the mixing of the granular media with the gravel, causingclogging of orifices which jams the system. Furthermore, thedisturbances are sometimes severe enough to cause catastrophic resultssuch as the lifting or breaking up of the laterals of the underdrain.

The reduction in turbulence during the cleansing cycles allows for thereduction of the amount of granular media required as less mixingbetween the granular and gravel layers occurs as well as less shiftingof granular materials causing unequal amounts of material at variouslocations in the filter bed. While the systems in common use todayrequire six layers of gravel, the first embodiment of this inventionrequires only one layer of gravel, while the second embodiment requiresonly three or four layers of gravel.

The underdrain laterals 2 may be composed of ceramic, fiber glass,plastic, metal or any other suitable material.

The instant invention also provides an easy means for leveling thebackwash liquid intakes to provide for even liquid distribution byrotating the threaded stems of the nozzles. Also, through the use of cutouts in the underdrain laterals 2, gas and liquid pressures and flow areequalized within each of the underdrain laterals and throughout thefilter bed 34.

Although the embodiments described herein use filtration to purify wastewater it should be noted that the instant invention is equallyapplicable to other methods of purification and to purify liquids otherthan waste water.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully illustrate myinvention that others may, by applying current or future knowledge,readily adapt the same for use under the various conditions of service.

I claim:
 1. An underdrain lateral for use in a liquid purificationsystem, said lateral comprising: means comprising a gas chamber forisolating gas used in filter backwashing from water used in filterbackwashing, a compensating chamber containing said water positionedbelow said gas chamber, a primary chamber positioned below saidcompensating chamber and a horizontal baffle between said gas and saidcompensating chambers having at least one opening therein to allow gasto flow from said gas chamber into said compensating chamber.
 2. Anunderdrain lateral for use in a liquid purification system, said lateralcomprising: means comprising a gas chamber for isolating gas used infilter backwashing from water used in filter backwashing, a primarychamber containing said water positioned below said gas chamber, acompensating chamber positioned below said primary chamber and ahorizontal baffle between said gas and primary chambers having at leastone opening therein to allow gas to flow from said gas chamber toprimary chamber.
 3. An underdrain lateral for use in a liquidpurification system, said lateral comprising a gas chamber and a secondchamber beneath said gas chamber and a means for isolating gas used infilter backwashing from backwash water used in filter backwashing, saidmeans comprising a horizontal baffle between said gas chamber and saidsecond chamber having at least one opening therein to allow gas to flowfrom said gas chamber to said second.
 4. The underdrain lateral of claim3 wherein said lateral further comprises a nozzle assembly having anupper member and a stem, said stem having at least one orifice for theentry of gas.
 5. The underdrain lateral of claim 4 wherein said stemcomprises an upper end, a lower end and a wall, with said stem wallhaving said at least one orifice therein.
 6. The underdrain of claim 5wherein said at least one orifice comprises a first orifice and a secondorifice, and said first orifice is positioned proximate said upper endand said second orifice is positioned between said first orifice andsaid lower end.
 7. The underdrain of claim 6 further comprising means tovary the position of said second orifice so that said gas/waterinterface and the volume occupied by said gas in said lateral may bevaried.
 8. The underdrain lateral of claim 1 wherein said gas,compensating and primary chambers have generally rectangular crosssections.
 9. The underdrain lateral of claim 2 wherein said gas, primaryand compensating chambers have generally rectangular cross-sections.